Connector



Aug. 31, 1943. .D M POTTER 2,328,294

CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 26, 1942 INVEN-ron .Davi'd M Ppfer.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1943 CONNECTOR 'pavia M. Potter, ramada. N. `J.

Application October 26, 1942, Serial No. 463,447

(ci. zar-104) l 9 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to fittings, and more particularly to connector fittings for releasably connecting the ends of cables, rods and other like members or parts.

An object of the invention is to provide a connector which is simple in construction, is inex-- pensive to manufacture, is positive in operation, is light and strong, and may be locked and released by hand manipulation and without the aid of a tool.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

As an example of one environment in which connectors of the type herein disclosed are more or less extensively used, aircraft may be mentioned.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote like or corresponding parts:

Fig.v l is a side elevation ofa connector showing the terminal portions connected and locked:

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the terminal portions unlocked and disconnected;

Fig. 3V is asimilar view of one terminal portion taken at right angles to the showings of Figs, l and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sleeve or collar showing the manner in which the spring is attached.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, Ill and II designate the respective terminal portions of the connector. Both terminal portions are of full round or circular section and of similar size and shape. The terminal portion I 0, at one end, is provided with an extension I2, and at the inner end of the extension I2, a shoulder I3 is formed. A similar extension I4 and shoulder I5 are formed on the other terminal II. Preferably, the extensions I2 and I4 are of substantially identical length and each, in cross-section, is half round or semicircularthe extension I2 having formed on its ilat surface, transverse serrations or teeth I6, and the extension I4 having formed on its fiat surface, transverse extensions or teethk II-the serrations or teeth, in each instance, and in the overlapping position thereof, being adapted to snugly intert and hence interlock with the shoulders I3 and I5, respectively abutting the extension ends. Thus assembled, and when held together as shown in Fig. l, obviously, due to the interilt, the terminals are interlocked and held against relative axial or longitudinal movement. Also, when thus interlocked, the overlapping extensions I2 and Il provide in the asgregate a full round section identical in size and shape with that of the remaining portion of the connector length.

The means for holding the overlappins extensions against lateral separation ,when interlocked comprises a spring I8. Said spring is preferably a spiral spring adapted to tit snugly around both terminal portions. At one end said spring bears against a flange I9 formed on the terminal por-l tion Ill. This flange is preferably spaced from the shoulder I3 a distance equal to the length of the sleeve or collar 20 by means of which the spring is manually compressed and extended. A similar flange 2i is formed on the terminal portion I I. The opposite end of the spring IB, however, does not bear against the flange 2|. Said flange acts merely as a stop to limit the sliding movement of the collar 20 when manipulated to expand the spring. v

By snugly tting the spring, i, e., all of its convolutions aroundthe terminal portions, the overlapping interlocking extensions I2 and Il thereof are firmly held against lateral separation. Such snug fit also acts to automatically preclude expansion and contraction of the spring except by proper manipulation of the collar. The collar, it will be noted, has an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the terminal portions, and within its embrace one end of the spring extends. At the end of the collar remote from the ilange I9 a shoulder 22 is formed, and

. it is this shoulder which is adapted to engage the ilange 2l to limit the sliding movement of the collar.

Any attempt to compress the spring by merely sliding the collar toward the ilange I9 would only cause its convolutions to frictionally bind against the outer'surface of the connected terminal por tions. A combined rotating and sliding movement of the collar is required. And this is equally true, though to a lesser degree, if an attempt be made to slide the collar to eilect expansion of the spring.

To prevent binding of the spring during collar manipulation, all that is required is that its convolutions be slightly loosened simultaneously as the collar is slid lengthwise the connector ter-4 minal portions. This is accomplished by fastening one end of the spring to the ange I9 at 23 and the opposite end of the spring to the collar 2li at 24-preferably by soldering. Thus fastened, rotation of the collar in one direction all convolutions of the coil spring are completely" housed within the embrace of the collar. When fully expanded, the convolutions of the spring embrace the extensions I2 and I4 and by such embracement hold said extensions against lateral separation. If desired, and as a further means to prevent sliding movement of the collar to expand the spring, once it is fully compressed, the open end of the collar and the flange I9 may be so dimensioned as to frictionally engage-the latter within the embrace of the former, as

shown in Fig. 4.

As an added safety feature, one or more of the mating serrations may be given an odd configuration such as that shown at 24 in Fig. 3, to prevent mating thereof except when properly brought together with a full overlap. This added feature, however, is optional and may be dispensed with if desired. If dispensed with, and the total number of serrations are identical, the effective length of the connector may be varied in direct proportion to the extent of the overlap. In other words, it is not essential under all circumstances that the shoulders I3 and I5 abut the respective extension ends. Moreover, as a further means of holding one end of the spring itted to and within the collar, one or more spiral convolutions 25 may be formed on the inside of the collar adjacent to its flanged end and into the spiral of which the spring is adapted to be screwed.

A connector thus characterized is possessed of that factor of safety most desired. It can be neither released nor locked accidentally, and is completely foolproof. It is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, equally effective both in tension and compression, and requires no tool for its manipulation.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

I claim as my invention:

1. A connector comprising mating terminal portions adapted for a substantial portion of the length thereof to overlap and interlock, an abutment carried by one said terminal portion, a compressible helical spring bearing at one end4 on said abutment and adapted, when not compressed, to encircle said mating terminal portions at said overlap to hold said terminal portions against lateral separation at said interlock, and a collar slidable along said overlap and against which the other end of said spring is adapted to bear, said collar being adapted by its movement toward said abutment to compress said spring until both the collar and spring are entirely clear of said overlap.

2. A connector comprising mating terminal portions adapted throughout a substantial portion of the length thereof to overlap and inter lock, an abutment carried by one said terminal portion, a compressible helical spring adapted when extended to encircle said overlap and hold said terminalportions against lateral separation at said interlock, said spring when compressed bearing at one end against said abutment, and a collar of an inside diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of said spring slidable along said overlap to compress said spring, said spring when compressed suiiiciently to uncover said overlap being confined for the major part within the embrace of said collar.

3. A connector comprising separable interlocked terminal portions, a compressible spiral adapted to encircle said interlocked terminal portions with the convolutions of the spring in substantially continuous contact with the outer surface of said terminal portions, an abutment to which one end of said spring is fastened, and a member movable both axially and rotatably with respect to said terminal portions and to which the other end of said spring is attached, said member by its combined axial and rotational movement being adapted to sufciently relieve the contact between the spring convolutions and the outer surface of the terminal portions to admit of spring compression and expansion.

4. A connector comprising separable interlocked terminal portions, a compressible spiral spring for holding said terminal portions interlocked, said spring being so tightly wound about said terminal portions as to effectively resist full compression thereof in the absence of relative rotational movement between the spring ends, and means fastened to said spring operable to relatively rotate the spring ends to effect spring compression.

5. A connector comprising separable interlocked terminal portions, va compressible spiral spring embracing said terminal portions for holding said terminal portions interlocked, said spring being incapable of full ,compression to release said terminal portions in the, absence of relative rotational movement of its ends, an abutment to which one end of said spring is fastened, and a lock releasing means fastened to the other end of said spring, said means being simultaneously rotatable and axially movable relatively to said terminal portions to compress said spring.

6. A connector comprising mating overlapping terminal portions each provided with a plurality of interitting transversely extending serrations, at least one serration of each terminal portion having a configuration at variance with the remaining serrations whereby said terminal portions are incapable of being mated unless properly overlapped, and means to hold said overlapping terminal portions against lateral separation when overlapped and interlocked.

7. A connector comprising mating terminal portions adapted to overlap and interlock, and a helical spring fastened at one end relatively to one said terminal portion, said spring, when compressed, being adapted to uncover said terminal portions to admit of lateral separation thereof, and when extended being adapted to closely embrace said terminal portions to prevent lateral separation thereof.

8. A connector comprising mating terminal portions adapted to overlap and interlock, a helical spring fastened at one end relatively to one said terminal portion, said spring, when compressed, being adapted to uncover said terminal portions to admit of lateral separation thereof,

and when extended being adapted to closely embrace said terminal portions to prevent lateral separation thereof, and means movable lengthwise said terminal portions and bearing on the opposite end of said spring for effectingits contraction.

9. A connector comprising mating terminal portions adapted to overlap and interlock, a helical spring fastened at one end relatively to one said terminal portion, and means fastened to the opposite end of said spring for effecting its expansion and contraction, said means being movable both rotationally and longitudinally relatively to said terminal portions.

DAVID M. POTTER. 

